CUAI-. xxxii. BRADORE HILLS AND BAY. 183 



is beginning to acquire the importance which properly 

 belongs to it on account of its invaluable fisheries. On 

 the Labrador and the north shore generally, the houses of 

 the settlers are three or four miles from one another, and 

 there are seldom more than six famihes residing at any 

 village or sedentary seal fishery, with the exception of 

 about forty resident families at ISTatashquan, twenty-five 

 at Bradore Bay, and about ten families at La Tabatiere 

 and several other villages. A detailed census of the coast 

 is given elsewhere. The dwelling-houses of the people 

 are constructed of wood, which is generally procured from 

 Quebec, although the interior villages could furnish timber 

 in sufficient quantities for all demands on the coast, but in 

 its present condition it is found to be cheaper to import 

 ready-prepared timber than to procure it from the interior. 

 On the coast between the Straits of Belle Isle and Cape 

 Whittle, the chmate is very severe ; fogs prevail, and 

 the channels of communication between the open sea and 

 the shore are sometimes very intricate. Li the interior 

 the climate is far superior, and much in advance of the 

 seasons on the coast. The scenery is wild, barren, and 

 gloomy, the mainland being generally about 500 feet 

 above the sea, but often much lower ; as w^ell as the islands, 

 which are imiumerable. The island of Mecatina is 685 feet 

 above the sea, and, with the Bradore Hills, very remarkable. 

 These hills are three round-backed mountains situated 

 inland four or five miles north-eastward from the head of 

 the Bay of Bradore. The highest summit is 1,2G4 feet 

 above the sea, and the highest land in this part of the 

 country from Bradore to the vicinity of ]\Iingan, is at 

 Cape Mecatina ; but this is not more than 700 feet above 



